1960s Counterculture Exhibition Opens At The Fashion And Textile Museum

A new exhibition has opened at the London Fashion And Textile Museum which is dedicated to the pioneering Chelsea boutiques of the 1960s. Titled ‘Beautiful People: The Boutique in1960s Counterculture’, the collection features over 100 outfits from the celebrated era in British fashion and creativity.

Inspired by the artists, musicians, and the radical political and social changes of the decade, a new generation of designers emerged to redefine the fashion landscape. Visitors will be able to see designs worn by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Jimi Hendrix. The museum has also recreated iconic boutiques such as Biba, Apple, and Granny Takes a Trip.

The Guardian reports that the 1960s are currently enjoying yet another revival, with Prada, Versace, and Max Mara all featuring the miniskirt in their latest shows. Christian Dior’s new show by Maria Grazia Chuiri was influenced by the 1960s designer Marc Bohan. Celebrities such as Harry Styles and Adele are also in on the act.

Paul Gorman, the author of The Look: Adventures in Rock and Pop Fashion and a recent biography of McLaren, commented on why he thinks people so often turn to the 1960s for a cultural reference point: “The 70s were really chaotic, there were several different things going on at the same time, whereas the 60s is quite linear in the developments of styles.”

He points out the youth of the 1960s deliberately distanced themselves from their more conservative parents and teachers, revelling in freedom of expression: “It’s not like now where your mum goes to Zara. This was an age when youth was defiance, exuberance, and people were willing to make a division with previous generations.”

Some of the boutiques were exclusive and inaccessible to most, despite the free and easy image of the era, but some, such as Biba, were loved by more ‘ordinary’ young women.

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